Russell Martin is a man who certainly knows what it takes to achieve promotion, having experienced the honour four times in his career.
The Scotland international enjoyed three promotions with Norwich City while he also helped Peterborough United move into the Championship early in his career.
Martin will be hoping to add a fifth promotion to his CV this season and, when speaking to Saturday’s edition of Red Dot, the defender discussed what it takes to get over the line.
“It sounds so cliché but you just need to focus on yourselves and the next game,” he said, in an interview you can read this weekend ahead of MK Dons’ Sky Bet League Two clash with Swindon Town.
“You can’t look ahead and start thinking that you’ve done it or that you haven’t as things can change so quickly. It’s a case of working as hard as possible and focusing on what we do, and not worrying about others.
“You also have to enjoy it. You have to enjoy going through this promotion push and not see it as pressure. Pressure is avoiding relegation out of the football league or winning games to keep the club afloat.”
MK Dons will need to reverse their current form if they are to achieve promotion to Sky Bet League One this season. Defender Martin is confident they will be able to do so.
“There are so many games left and so many points to play for that we can’t get downbeat,” he commented. “I’m confident that once we put together back-to-back wins, we can kick on from there.
“I’m really confident we will change our fortunes. I’ve seen more than enough since arriving, and having watched a lot of games prior to joining, to see that the process that is in place here to be successful.
“I’m confident the results will turn, we just need to keep believing in ourselves. What you want after a poor run of results is to come out the other side stronger for it and I think that will be the case.”
You can read the full interview with Russell Martin in Saturday's edition of Red Dot, which will be available to buy from sellers around Stadium MK and the Box Office at a price of £3.
